^^ Sorry, haven't seen them play. They're a young side with a few experienced players + I think they moved (or will move) to a new stadium. Can anyone who's seen them comment on them?

Its a tough draw for Fenerbahce, but you shouldn't be too worried with a sure figure like Appiah in the middle. How's he playing this season?

So I know more about them.

Appiah is not as good as last season, he did not start good, well, now he is better I can say. We will be missing Kezman and Semih (also a forward) in the first leg(at home) , so we will have a problem with scoring. Also, we are missing our goalkeeper Rüştü, for some time now. He will not be playing this season I guess. He was injured in the international friendly against Italy, the ones who watched will remember. So, we rely on Appiah for sure and our defenders, Lugano, Edu. Also Tuncay shows himself in these kind of matches.

I watched them play against Kayserispor (another Turkish team) in the UEFA Cup first round match, Kayserispor could have easily qualified if they were not that much unexperienced, that was their first time in Europe ever. But that was only the beginning of the season, I can also recall the terrible games we had in the beginning of this season. I know they are much better in shape now.

Wesley Sneijder scored a hat-trick to inspire Ajax Amsterdam to a comfortable 4-1 win over arch-rivals Feyenoord in the Dutch league on Sunday.

After 23 matches, PSV Eindhoven are top with 56 points, despite their 3-2 home defeat against AZ Alkmaar on Saturday, five more then Ajax.

Alkmaar are third with 50, while Feyenoord remain fifth with 42 points.

Sneijder opened the scoring for Ajax after 19 minutes with a deflected free kick and doubled the lead 12 minutes later when he netted from close range from a pass by Ryan Babel.

Ten minutes before the interval Tom van Mul added a third and then Anelos Charisteas pulled one back for Feyenoord but four minutes before the final whistle Sneijder added his third.

Elsewhere, Vitesse Arnhem and NEC Nijmegen shared the points in a 1-1 derby draw. Roy Beerens opened the scoring for the visitors eight minutes into the second half but with 15 minutes remaining Mads Junker equalised.

Why -nearly- all the derbies end with big goal differences in Holland? Strange.

"...a legendary deep pop group from somewhere in the future off the edge of saturn, a group whose songs coat the imagination with dread and danger and desperation, with nearness and absence, a group whose songs fire the imagination with hope against hope and the exact opposite."

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) - Prosecutors have asked for a ten-month prison sentence for Russian national team coach Guus Hiddink who is accused of tax fraud, Dutch media reported Tuesday.

Prosecutors have alleged that Hiddinck evaded paying €1.4 million (US$1.8 million) in Dutch taxes during that period by claiming a tax home in Belgium when he was actually living in Eindhoven.

A spokeswoman for the national financial prosecutor's office could not immediately confirm the sentencing demand, reported by national broadcaster NOS.

Judges were expected to deliver a verdict in two weeks. The case is being heard in the central city of Den Bosch.

Hiddink coached the South Korean national team to a surprise semifinal spot at the 2002 World Cup before moving to PSV Eindhoven later that year. He coached Australia at last year's World Cup before taking up his current post in Russia.

Hiddink is in the Netherlands for Russia's friendly international in Amsterdam on Wednesday.

Ajax stunned PSV Eindhoven on Sunday by inflicting a crushing defeat on the league leaders at the Philips Stadion.

The outstanding win sees the Amsterdammers close to within five points of PSV at the Eredivisie summit, with just five games remaining in the campaign.

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar fired the visitors into the lead inside 20 minutes while Wesley Sneijder doubled the advantage for Henk ten Cate's men a minute before the interval.

Patrick Kluivert reduced the deficit for the hosts midway through the second half, but a further strike from Huntelaar and two more from Garcia Gabri and Kenneth Perez sealed an emphatic win for the visitors.

The three points ensures Ten Cate's men climb into second place at the expense of AZ Alkmaar, who were held on the road at Heracles.

Ronald Koeman's PSV looked sluggish from the outset, and Ajax forward Ryan Babel gave a taster of what was to come with an excellent shot on eight minutes that flew wide of the upright.

Failing to heed that warning shot across their bows, PSV fell behind on 17 minutes.

Sneijder was the architect of the goal, surging forward before releasing Johnny Heitinga down the right wing.

The defender in turn picked out Huntelaar in space just inside the PSV box, and he made no mistake with a fine shot beyond Heurelho Gomes.

PSV looked to force their way back into contention on 22 minutes, but Edison Mendez was aggrieved to see his effort brilliantly saved by Maarten Stekelenburg.

Ajax's second goal came slightly against the run of play on 44 minutes.

The impressive Sneijder was the scorer, creating the chance out of nothing with a speculative effort from 25 yards that arrowed into the roof of the net.

And Edgar Davids might have made it three for the visitors right on half-time, but his powerful effort crashed back off the upright.

PSV clawed themselves back into things on 68 minutes when Kluivert played a delightful one-two with fellow substitute Diego Tardelli, paving the way for the former Barcelona man to score with a well-taken strike.

But just as it appeared PSV might snatch an unlikely point, Huntelaar popped up to restore the two-goal advantage with a clinical strike on 72 minutes.

Then, just 60 seconds later and with the home defence in seeming disarray, Gabri popped up with a fourth to send the travelling support into raptures.

Mendez might have snatched a second for PSV in the dying stages only to hit the post with a low drive, but the final word was destined to go to the visitors as Perez was played in by Tom De Mul in the final minute to complete the rout.

I did at first, but after watching the game, what the heck was he thinking? I mean, as I've stated before, any modern coach with any knowledge of the game at a high standard should realize the necessity of playing four at the back since it gives you extra defensive strength + support to your attack on the flanks. As I've stated before, I think its almost amateurish to play anything other than four at the back against good opposition.

He shuffled his backline because Alex was out ... wrong decision that led to no wing play (apart from the Korean guy on the right) + left Farfan trying to create something on the left. After half-time, when he switched back to a conventional 4-4-2 layout, despite PSV conceding more, they played much better till they kinda gave up on the game. That Ecuadorian Mendez was quite impressive ... definitely a good buy.

I did at first, but after watching the game, what the heck was he thinking? I mean, as I've stated before, any modern coach with any knowledge of the game at a high standard should realize the necessity of playing four at the back since it gives you extra defensive strength + support to your attack on the flanks. As I've stated before, I think its almost amateurish to play anything other than four at the back against good opposition.

Did you see the highlights of the massacre? Gomes was seen throwing a fit after nearly every Ajax goal.

Did you see the highlights of the massacre? Gomes was seen throwing a fit after nearly every Ajax goal.

I watched the whole game ... I think the torrent's still up, but no fireworks in the game. Gomes has been a character in the PSV squad so it's natural he has been on the spotlight more than other players. Especially since he couldn't do anything to stop the goals ...

Yeah, Davids' shot was a rocket ... I think it was a proper volley too (didn't even bounce) + Gomes went down injured after he took the knock. Stam also played but I'm glad he isn't still playing with us since he made a few blunders. Grygera wasn't too impressive partnering him in the middle either. And never knew Heitinga started playing in midfield.

Sneijder was brilliant as was Huntelaar. Babel has immense talent + energy but always seems to chose the wrong option. Still has a lot to learn before he becomes a real threat.

Also in that match Davids scold against a ball-boy. So The ref said to Davids: please don't do this, you suppost to be a role model for the younger players. When the match was over Davids tried to make it up with the boy by giving him his jersey. That was a nice idea ! unfortunately he gave it to the wrong ball-boy...

Ok what do you think of this?
Look at the ref (Braamhaar) in the replay: